Seed-tester cup.



PATENTED JUNE 23 A. 'G., WEAND'ER. SEED TESTER GUP. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11, 1908.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

ANDREW G. WEANDER, OF SIOUX CITY, IOWA.

SEED-TESTER, CUP.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW G. WEANDER, citizen of the United States, residing at Sioux City, in the county of Woodbury and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seed-Tester Qups, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to seed testing appliances, and more articularly to an improved tester cup embo ying a novel construction whereby the same can be readily attached to a support an ear of corn, or like object and held 1n proper position.

The invention further contemplates an improved transplanting attachment designed to e employed in connection with a cup, to en' able a plant to be lifted therefrom without disturbing the roots thereof.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the seed tester cup applled to one end of an ear of corn. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the tester cup applied to the side of an ear of corn. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the transplanting attachment. Fig. 4 is'a perspective view of the tester cup showing the bottom thereof. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing a record card applied to one of the cups.

Corresponding and like arts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Specifically describing the present embodiment of the invention the numeral 1 designates the on which is designed to receive the soil within which the seed to be tested may be planted and permitted to germinate. This tester cup may be of any approved form, although in the present instance it is shown as rectangular in shape and is formed from a single piece of sheet material. A hook member 2 projects from the upper edge of the cup 1 upon one side thereof, and is designed to en gage a rope or cable under certain conditions as will be more fully set forth. In the preferred construction this member 2 is formed, as shown on the drawing, by extending one of the sides of the cup upwardly and returning the same. V 7

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Application filed. February 11, 1908.

Patented June 23, 1908.

Serial No. 415,386.

Projecting downwardly from the bottom of the tester cup is a prong 3, and in a similar manner, a second prong 4 projects laterally from the cup, the two prongs being shown in the present instance as formed from a single piece of wire soldered or otherwise rigidly secured to the bottom of the cup and having the extremities thereof sharpened and disposed at right angles to each other. When the device is utilized for testing corn, and it is desired to suspend the corn from a cable, the downwardly projecting prong 3 may be embedded in one end of the ear of corn, and the hook member 2 caused to engage the cable. However, instead of utilizing the downwardly extending prong 3, it may under certain conditions be found desirable to employ the laterally extending prong 4, in which instance, the said rong 4 is embedded in one side of the ear 0 corn. It also frequently happens that instead of suspending the corn from a cable the ears are laid in rows upon shelving, and in this instance, the downwardly extending prong 3 may be embedded in one side of the ear of corn, and the tester cup thereby supported in position.

The invention further contemplates a novel attachment for lifting the plants from the cup when removing the same to the beds or garden. This transplanting attachment comprises a lifting plate 5, designed to rest upon the bottom of the cup and corresponding in shape to the same. Projecting upwardly from one side of the lifting plate is an arm 6 Which extends above the mouth of the tester cup where it terminates in a finger piece-7. In the present instance, this fin er piece is formed by deflecting the upper edge of the arm 6 laterally. It Wlll be thus apparent that by grasping the said finger piece and pulling upwardly thereon, the lifting late 5 will be elevated, and the contents of t e cup removed in such manner as not to interfere with the roots of the plant.

For the purpose of keeping a record of the seed being tested, a card 8 having spaces thereon, as clearly indicated on the drawing, to receive the necessary data, is utilized in connection with the cups. perforated at 9, and when applied to the cup, one edge of the card is received within the hooked portion 2, While the lateral rong 4 projects through the o ening 9. manner the card is 'hel against accidental n this displacement, 'butcan be readilyapplied to the tester cup, or removed therefromasdesired.

Havin thus described the invention, What is claime as new is:

1. A seed tester cup provided with a downwardly projecting prong and also withalaterally projecting prong.

2. A seed tester cup provided with a down- Wardly'projecting prong and also with a laterally'projectinglpron ,the sa'idprongs-being forme idly seouredto the cup andhavingthe end portions thereofbent'at angles to eachother.

from a single ength of materialrig- 3. A seed tester cup provided with a prong projecting downwardly from the bottom thereof, and also provided with a second prong fprojecting laterally from the bottom thereo I 4. The combination of a seed testercup, means uponithe cup'for engaging a support,

and arecord card ada ted to havean interlocking connection Wit the said support engagingmeans.

5. The combination of a seed tester cup,

. .means upon the cu for suspending the same, a prong 1projecting rom the cup, and a record card .he

d in position upon the cup by the prong and suspending means.

6. The combination of a seed tester cup formed With a hooked portion, and a prong,

and a erforated record card, one of the edges 0 the card being designed to engage the hooked portion ofthe cup, While the perforation-therein is designed to receive the prong projeoting fromthe cup.

In: testimony whereof 'I aifix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

ANDREW G. WEANDER. Witnesses:

MATILDA JULOH, C. B. 'HroM-AN. 

